Junior sport has a conundrum to deal with. Passion for sport and behaviour that is not congruent to kids having fun playing whatever sport. Sport can bring out the best in us and on the flip side, the worst in us. Our competitive nature focuses on winning rather than the journey and while we want to win, I would like to remind everyone no one is out to sabotage anyone from winning. This includes BNSW, referees, court supervisors, coaches, athletes and parents.
We are now all back in pretty much full swing with the leagues and local competition and I would like us all to reflect on the following, to ensure our kids have a FUN and POSITIVE EXPERIENCE PLAYING, REFEREEING and VOLUNTEERING in our sport.
- Be supportive and positive – the kids are there to have fun and feel included no matter what role, position or division they participate in.
- Referees are an integral part of our game just like players and coaches and a majority of them are children in our junior leagues. They do their best and just like players and coaches, they sometimes make mistakes. Treat them with respect and make everyone an integral part of your teams and associations!
- Work with us to create a POSITIVE and SUPPORTIVE CULTURE
A positive culture comes from amplifying the good and dealing with the challenges and issues in a constructive way. Posting things all over social media platforms is not the most ideal way of dealing with issues. We deal with all issues as they come up with the relevant associations, participants and parents and the resolution may not be known or visible to everyone due to privacy and duty of care to those involved.
- We are an inclusive multicultural sport and we will not accept or tolerate any vilification or victimisation of anyone who is participating in any of our leagues in NSW.
- Our volunteers are just that, volunteers. They are helping our kids to be able to play, have fun and create a POSITIVE STRONG CULTURE. Support them to get the job done so everyone can have a good time.
So can I ask everyone to be positive and seek to find out the facts before reacting and taking to social media and amplifying the untruths by repeating them? Be supportive without being angry? Enjoy the kids playing and have FUN!
Alcohol is not appropriate at junior games and we are asking our associations to manage alcohol in a responsible way where it is served during senior league games.
Basketball is an amazing sport and we are the fastest growing team sport in Australia.
Join me in celebrating our diversity and how much it brings to the whole family of our sport but first and foremost have FUN and be a ROLE MODEL for our kids. They are our FUTURE!
Warm Regards
Maria Nordstrom
Basketball NSW
Chief Executive Officer